Welcoming Families From Around the World

Working as  social worker, in Robeson County school system, I was notified that a new family would be moving into our school district with three children ages 4, 5,  and 8. The youngest child would be enrolled in our school's NC Pre-K program, while the other two would be enrolled in kindergarten and third grade. This family is unique from others, because they recently immigrated from Indonesia.

As the school social worker, it is my duty to serve as a liaison between home and school. In order to be culturally responsive towards this family I would research Indonesian culture. Learning about Indonesian culture would be important in order to learn proper forms of communication, physical contact (i.e handshaking), education. Next, I would take the opportunity to personally meet the family and discuss any questions, concerns, and expectations. Once this task has been completed, I would meet with each child's teacher to ensure that each child's need would be accommodated and to ensure that the teacher has become familiar with the family's culture. Next, I would work with the teachers to ensure that diversity, including Indonesian culture, has been positively displayed throughout the classrooms. This is important because the children will be inquisitive and it would be ideal to have materials that relate to Indonesian culture in order for the children to have a better understanding of their new peers, their family, and native country. Finally, once school has begun a form of cultural awareness would be implemented into the curriculum, which would allow the children and their family to share Indonesian culture and for them to become familiar with American culture, in addition to various cultures throughout the school. In addition, I would always have an interpreter on site to help diffuse language/culture barriers.

The above acts would allow me to culturally responsive because I would be able to have a basic understanding of Indonesia culture. In addition, I will also assist the family in adjusting to their new lives in a new country. It is important that children have an understanding of the various cultures around them. Teachers would also assist in the families transition by having basic knowledge to help their students understand and build a level of respect for one another.

The Personal Side of Bias, Prejudice, and Oppression

This morning, around 6:00 a.m., I was woken out of my sleep. I was unable to go back, so I decided to watch an old show from the 1990's called "New York Undercover". On this episode, the NYPD police, J.C, Torres, and McNamara, were investigating a string of black churches that were bombed. All though this show was fictional, it still displayed the hatred that many African Americans encountered during the early 1900's and Civil Rights Movement. At the end of the show a list of churches, from around the U.S., that were bombed during the 1990's.

This incident diminishes  equity because it gives off the impression that African Americans and their property is not valued. The prime suspect in the case stated that the churches were being burned in order to rid America of all minorities to get back to a "pure" America.

This incident saddens me because it shows that 30 years after the Civil Rights Movement, this level of prejudice still exist. Even though this show is fictional it depicted current events during this time. I'm still in awe at the level of ignorance that are displayed by people. It often makes me wonder will we ever live in a nondiscriminatory society.


If there was something that I could change, it would be the similar incidents that occurred in real life.

Practicing Awareness of Micro Aggression

This past Tuesday a young women, of a different race, asked me "Why can black people keep their hair oily and don't have to wash it everyday". I am not a licensed cosmetologist, therefore I did not know the appropriate answer. All I could tell her was that hair textures vary from person to person, not necessarily because of one's race. I honestly believe that she did not meant any harm. When reviewing the resources for this week, it opened my eyes to just how often scenarios such as this, and the discussion board, occur.

Week 4 resources have allowed me to realize that discrimination does not have to be as open and obvious as a burning cross. People often tend to say or act in ways that are totally oblivious to them as being racist or discriminatory.

Perspectives on Culture and Diversity

For this blog assignment, there were many people that I could have chosen to give their definition of culture and diversity. However, the three people that I chose are based upon their age, wisdom, and profession. My 81 year old grandmother, who is a former teacher has traveled all around the world with my grandfather, who was apart of the arm services. Mother, as she is called, defined culture is a common practice that a group of people or society. These practices can include language, dress attire, religion, and social interaction. She defined diversity as the differences among society. Diversity can include family size/style, race, age, and religion. The second person who defined culture and diversity was my twin sister LaQuincia. Quincy define culture as group of people who lived, believed, and interacted in similar ways. This group of people may be of the same racial or ethnic back ground, as was as religious background. Diversity is defined as the differences among people, that make them all unique/ The last person I spoke with is of a different racial background, as well as age. My supervisor Wendy defined culture as a group of people with similar practices, beliefs, physical characteristics, and/or religious beliefs. Diversity was defined by Wendy as unique characteristics that distinguish individuals apart from others.

Based upon the definition of culture and diversity, some examples of what has been discussed thus far in this course are culture including including similar practices such as language, race/ethnicity, social interactions. Examples of diversity discussed thus far  are family size/style and age.

Based upon the definitions taken from all three subjects, there does not seem to be an examples that have been omitted.

Hearing how my grandmother, sister, and supervisor perceived culture and diversity made me realize that both terms have broad definitions. Culture and diversity go far beyond race and ethnicity. These terms also made me realize that culture and diversity seem to go hand and hand. Similar characteristics are what make up culture and these same characteristics, in addition to individualized characteristics, are what make us diverse.  

My Family Culture

If I were given the option of bringing 3 personal items with me I would bring a picture of my Great-Grandmother Armathia Cousar Roper, a copy of my maternal grandmothers Bachelor's Degree, and a Bible.

The picture of my great grandmother is sentimental because she raised my twin and I. She is mainly responsible for setting the foundation for my life. She instilled so many values into me. My maternal grandmother's Bachelor degree, from North Carolina A & T University , is important because she was the first person in our family to receive a college education. My grandmother instilled the importance of an education in her children (my mom and her 5 siblings), which my mom instilled in my my twin and me. Education is an important part of our family culture. The Bible signifies  the importance of having a personal relationship with God. Faith is an important part of our family culture as well.

If I were informed that I would have to give up two items I would feel upset, sad, and confused. All three of these items are significant to who I am and a significant part of my family culture. I would not know which items I would give up. I would be hurt and possibly refuse to give them up.

This assignment has allowed me to reflect on what is important in my family and in my life. Without these influences in my life, I honestly do not know where I would be or what type of person I would be. I'm truly grateful!

When I Think of Research

Over the past eight weeks, my perspective on research has broadened. I have learned the meaning of various new terms. the importance of refining of research questions, equity challenges in research, and how research impacts the ECE field. 

My ideas concerning research have changed because I now understand the research does not have to a complex drawn out topics that consist of alot of data. Research in the ECE field can be on a topic such as the importance of play. I also realized that validity is important in ECE research. This can be done through the use of various methods, such as direct observation and interview, or using multiple researchers to interpret data.

I have learned that it is important to follow the research design process. It allows one to determine what will be research, how the research will be conducted, how the topic related to time, place, and people, how the data will be collected and analyzed, determine if there would be a possible set back and test the design by conducting a test pilot.

The only problems I have encountered were time management and specifying a research topic. It wasn't until week 7 that I fully understand how a research topic should be correctly stated. I will be sure to apply all changes to this week’s application.

My perception of ECE professionals has not been altered by this course.


I wish everyone the best in all future courses and professional endeavors. 

Research Around the World

I chose to browse the Early Childhood Australia, which can be accessed at http://www.earlychildhoodaustralia.org.au/.  The following topics have been researched:

-Aggression and young children
-Engaging families (Communication)
-Using digital photographs in ECE settings
-Emotional literacy (feelings/emotions in young children)

I was honestly surprised to find out that the topic of bullying is being research in Australia. I viewed bullying as a major problem in the U.S. because of our culture and the emphasized placed on fitting into the "norm".

I discovered that Australia is in process of changing the child-staff ratio of children under 24 months to 1:4. The changes will take place in 2014. I believe that lowering the child staff ratio will be beneficial to young children. As a former infant room Lead Teacher, I found it some what difficult to give 5 infants or toddlers the individual time that they need.